VOLuntarily Conservative

• Christmas is Coming...

  Send your own ElfYourself eCards [...]
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  Posted: November 10, 2009, 8:59pm EST
  

• Red State Update: Republicans Win

  Jackie and Dunlap go nuts over actual Republican victories from Tuesday.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 2:21pm EST
  

• GOP Run Amok in Arizona

  Blue Collar Muse has the story out of Maricopa County, one in a disturbing trend of recent Republican episodes that tend to fly in the face of liberty and freedom. This one involves blogging and First Amendment rights, which makes it a bit more troubling even than the NRSC's' [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 7:04am EDT
  

• Red State Update: The Conservative Bible

  Jackie and Dunlap take a walk on the heretical side.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 3:18am EDT
  

• "Bring on Your Wrecking Ball..."

  This is by far the busiest time of the year for me. Having tracked court activity for several years now, it's become apparent that my work in the courts kicks up a notch (which, especially this year, is hard to believe) between Labor Day and a few days before Christmas.' [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 2:27am EDT
  

• Out of My Element This Weekend

  So, the UT football team has a bye week this weekend. No one was happier than my lovely wife, who was able to talk me into attending her reunion at Vanderbilt University.
  Not knowing what to expect when hanging around the financial elites, I solicited advice from my network of [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 7:49am EDT
  

• Red State Update: Obama's Prize

  Jackie and Dunlap offer commentary on why Obama wasn't deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 7:43am EDT
  

• Court Orders Girl to Public School, Saying Mother's Teachings are "Too Religious"

  A fascinating - and ultimately disturbing - case out of New Hampshire has a father using his child as a weapon against the mother post-divorce. Certainly nothing extraordinary there; I see the described situation nearly every day that I happen into a civil court where divorce matters are being litigated [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 2:30pm EDT
  

• Happy Belated Birthday, Bruce

  Yesterday (September 23rd) was Bruce Springsteen's 60th birthday. I'm not sure which is harder to believe - that he's still performing at such a high level in 2009 or that he's 60 to begin with.
  Happy 60th, Bruce. We may disagree about how to do so, but there's no questioning' [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2009, 6:53am EDT
  

• Gameday at UT from a Bruin's Perspective

  Oftentimes, I think that some Vol fans take for granted what a unique and wonderful thing we have every Saturday in the fall on the banks of the Tennessee River.
  
  Read this chronicle from a UCLA fan who made a sudden and unexpected trip across the country to [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 11:35pm EDT
  

• American Disloyalty

  "Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile activity poses a real threat, not just to the United States, but to Iran's neighbors and our allies. The Czech Republic and Poland have been courageous in agreeing to host a defense against these missiles. As long as the threat from Iran persists, we will" [...]
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  Posted: September 17, 2009, 1:38pm EDT
  

• Don't Abandon the Vols

  It seems everyone thinks that UT needs a miracle to even come close to hanging with the mighty Gators at The Swamp this Saturday.
  
  A miracle, huh? We've done that before...
  
  
  
  I remember the "Miracle at South Bend." That's the great thing about miracles; you often [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 9:04am EDT
  

• A Perfect Place to Experiment

  It looks like astronomers have found a great lab environment to test out the Democrats' attempts at socialized medicine.
  
  Let's get 'em on the first shuttle!' [...]
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  Posted: September 16, 2009, 8:59am EDT
  

• The Fraying of the Ties That Bind

  We're one day from a big game for UT football, so a large part of me does not want to dwell on the negative today. However, I've been quiet too long on our national trend towards self-destruction.
  Pat Buchanan authored a great column that mirrors the analysis that I [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 11:19am EDT
  

• A Big Orange Tuesday

  Things are looking up on ole Rocky Top after Saturday's pasting of Western Kentucky.
  First, word surfaced from out of the guys at Volquest.com that 4-star quarterback Tyler Bray, who had witnessed firsthand the resurgence of the Big Orange against the Hilltoppers, had decommitted from San Diego State and' [...]
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  Posted: September 08, 2009, 4:57pm EDT
  

• It's Football Time in Tennessee

  Don't call me at the office, because my brain is already at the Vol Walk.
  
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: September 04, 2009, 3:21pm EDT
  

• It's Time

  
  This week has a great deal going for it. The weather has been incredible. The U.S. Open has begun play. Boomsday is just around the corner. There is so much to be thankful for.
  And if you're a college football fan, a long, draining summer is coming to an' [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 2:06am EDT
  

• Questions Raised by Selections for Judicial Nominating Committee

  The Judicial Nominating Committee, the unconstitutional device created by the General Assembly which will continue the tasks previously designated to the heavily political and unconstitutional Judicial Selection Committee, has been named by Speaker Kent Williams and Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey.
  
  The selections were curious in many parts, but [...]
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  Posted: August 27, 2009, 3:48pm EDT
  

• The Life of Colonel David Crockett

  
  
  
  I've been reading more lately - but in a good way. Most of my reading over this decade has been increasingly about political events, proposed legislation, news, and the law. Those readings are well and good; they make you knowledgeable in the topics of the' [...]
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  Posted: August 20, 2009, 3:17pm EDT
  

• Report: U.S. Women Delaying Pregnancy

  Back in 1970, 1 in 100 births were to women 35 or older.
  
  In 2006, that number has increased to 1 in 12 births.
  
  There are many ways to look at these trends. Perhaps this is a sign that couples are waiting until they are more financially stable [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 4:15pm EDT
  

• Obama Endorses Gay Marriage, Attacks DOMA and States Rights

  Gee, didn't see this one coming. I guess Obama is trying to break Dubya's approval rating record.
  
  What is predictable is the coverage. Sure, there's coverage on websites like the Huffington Post and other blogs, but nothing from the MSM sites. Way to go, state-run media![...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 4:09pm EDT
  

• A Simple Solution for Bart's Quandry

  When pressed as to why he won't meet his bosses constituents face-to-face regarding the health care economy killing bill, Tennessee Congressman Bart Gordon shot back with:
  “There are over 700,000 in the 6th District in 15 different counties.”
  
  Well, Bart, if the job is too difficult for you, then' [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 10:05am EDT
  

• Bork, Lamar, and the Supreme Court

  
  "The neutral or nonpolitical application of principle has been discussed in connection with (Herbert) Wechsler's discussion in Brown v. Board of Education. It is a requirement, like the others, addressed to the judge's integrity. Having derived and defined the principle to be applied, he must" [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 9:21am EDT
  

• Start of Practice on The Hill

  I've worked all day on one pleading, one grueling day, for sure. It makes me rejuvenated, however, to know that football practice started for my Vols today. Only 30 more days until IT'S FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 8:10pm EDT
  

• What a Weekend!

  I want to give the 2009 Tennessee Statesman's Dinner the coverage it deserves, which means that y'all will have to wait until later on today for me to author a proper post. Unfortunately, today brings 5 cases in General Sessions Court and 1 case in Circuit Court, so my focus [...]
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  Posted: July 27, 2009, 8:13am EDT
  

• Red State Update: Sotomayor Confirmation Hearing

  Jackie and Dunlap start into the Sotomayor confirmation - but that doesn't last long as Dunlap launches into his hate for all judges, theology, and churches that will be joining him in Hell. Oh boy...
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2009, 6:25am EDT
  

• One Rough Week

  What I thought was going to be an easy week on the work front has been anything but. After attending the blogger meet-up with Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam on Monday evening, I have completed the series with Wamp, Ramsey, and Haslam. I have several thoughts on the meetings, but I [...]
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  Posted: July 16, 2009, 6:23am EDT
  

• Hitler's Reaction to the Palin Resignation

  Enuf said:
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 10, 2009, 6:27pm EDT
  

• Red State Update: Sarah Palin the Genius

  Jackie turns full-out Sarah Palin apologist, and Dunlap plays the roll of the majority of America in trying to comprehend the former VP nominee's resignation as Governor of Alaska.
  
  
  
  I have to say that this may be the best Red State Update of 2009 thus far.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 09, 2009, 4:33pm EDT
  

• Tennessee Firearms Association Meeting Tonight

  The Knoxville chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association will have its monthly meeting tonight. Special guest speaker will be Knoxville Mayor and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Bill Haslam.
  
  Monthly meetings are held at The IHOP restaurant in front of Lowes, on Chapman Highway at the intersection of John Sevier Highway [...]
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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 7:53am EDT
  

• Obama and the Anti-American Dictator - What the Media Isn't Covering

  RedState's Erick Erickson sees cause for concern in Obama's private discussions with Venezuala's Marxist dictator, Hugo Chavez.
  

  "Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so busy watching Barack Obama destroy American
  capitalism in his domestic policy, we’ve failed to pay attention that he is also
  destroying our long time foreign policy ideals" [...]

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  Posted: July 07, 2009, 7:41am EDT
  

• Love that Chicken at Popeyes!

  Apparently, Popeyes Chicken is looking at opening another location in Knoxville. Unfortunately for me, it looks like they are still concentrating on the market around Farragut. Hey, Popeyes, how about some love for us on the eastern side of Knox County?
  
  I remember a time when Popeyes [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:24pm EDT
  

• Facinating Thoughts on the Family from the Georgia Bench

  I read this column, penned by the Chief Justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, and was blown away. I haven't read something so powerful in some time now, particularly in light of what I see everyday in the many manifestations of the aftermath of divorce.
  The column is well' [...]
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  Posted: July 06, 2009, 2:53am EDT
  

• Red State Update: Al Franken

  Jackie and Dunlap talk about Al Franken joining the U.S. Senate and how it would be better if a comedian who was actually funny was elected to Congress.
  
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 05, 2009, 11:39pm EDT
  

• When Told Not to Worry, It's Time to Start Being Concerned

  A quote from a recent op-ed in the New York Times:
  
  "NRA leaders have misled many gullible people into believing that our weapons are going to be taken away from us, and that homeowners will be deprived of the right to protect ourselves and our families. The NRA would" [...]
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  Posted: July 04, 2009, 10:57pm EDT
  

• Good Times

  It's amazing how a little taste of victory can change your outlook on life. A good win Monday in court has certainly raised my spirits during these dog days of summer.
  
  Yes, it is true that Greg Mackay, a tried and true Democrat, remains as the Knox County [...]
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  Posted: July 01, 2009, 8:02am EDT
  

• Cap-and-Trade on the House Floor Tuesday?

  There are some early rumblings that the so-called "Energy Tax" - also known as "cap-and-trade" - might hit the floor in the House tomorrow. Tennesseans should be concerned, because a recent study said that Tennessee could lose 80,000 jobs as a direct consequence of cap-and-trade. Even conservative estimates from [...]
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  Posted: June 22, 2009, 7:34pm EDT
  

• Sunday Morning Fred

  Word has come down that former Senator Fred Thompson will be on Meet the Press this Sunday. Set your Tivo accordingly. [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 1:42pm EDT
  

• Big Weekend for UT Football

  For casual fans who don't function under the obsession that is Tennessee football, this weekend is big for the Vol program. The coaching staff is conducting an overnight camp with over 200 recruits in town. One of the recruits, Channing Fugate from Jackson, Kentucky, has already committed to play for' [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 1:18pm EDT
  

• Blount County Bar's Young Lawyers Division Meeting Today

  Just a reminder that the Young Lawyers Division of the Blount County Bar is meeting today at Aroma Cafe (off of E. Broadway) in Alcoa at noon. All eligible lawyers (either in the first five years of practice or under the age of 35) are welcome to attend.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: June 16, 2009, 10:35am EDT
  

• A Case Study in Dealing with Political Bloggers

  A.C. Kleinheider details an excellent account on how one politician and his staff effectively dealt with a liberal political blogger here in Tennessee. From my own personal experience, I have found this to be more the norm in the past couple of years (and certainly an improvement from blogging's' [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 7:19am EDT
  

• A Case Study in Dealing with Political Bloggers

  A.C. Kleinheider details an excellent account on how one politician and his staff effectively dealt with a liberal political blogger here in Tennessee. From my own personal experience, I have found this to be more the norm in the past couple of years (and certainly an improvement from blogging's' [...]
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  Posted: June 15, 2009, 7:19am EDT
  

• "Marriage Crisis" in Iran?

  Take a gander at this TIME magazine piece that explores why Iran's marriage rate is nearly half of what it should be and how this may have serious political consequences going forward for that nation. [...]
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  Posted: June 12, 2009, 1:45pm EDT
  

• Weighing in on the Indigent Defense Fund

  Below is a copy of a letter sent to over twenty members of the General Assembly earlier this afternoon. I thought I probably should include it on the blog, since it's the most substantial thing I wrote today.
  
  June 11, 2009
  
  Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey
  1 Legislative Plaza[...]
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  Posted: June 11, 2009, 7:01pm EDT
  

• Red State Update: Sotomayor a Catholic first, a racist second?

  Jackie and Dunlap talk about Rush Limbaugh, the media, Sotomayor's views on killing babies, the fate of pro-abortion Supreme Court justices, and the differences between Catholic priests and Baptist ministers.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 12:18am EDT
  

• Ramsey Blogger Meet-up

  If time permits this morning, I hope to have something up about Friday night's dinner with Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey here in Knoxville.' [...]
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  Posted: June 08, 2009, 12:16am EDT
  

• Red State Update: Obama Kissing Muslim Butt

  Jackie and Dunlap analyze Obama's pandering to the Muslims:
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: June 05, 2009, 8:47am EDT
  

• Huddleston Expansion

  
  
  I had a big announcement set for the weekend, but I regrettably did not post it on VOLCon. As many of my friends can attest, I have been alternating between this blog and Facebook. Sometimes I forget to cross-post material. Heck, often I forget, [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 11:46am EDT
  

• TFA Meeting Tonight

  The Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Firearms Association will have its June meeting tonight, June 2nd in South Knoxville.
  
  The guest speaker is Jonathan Pirkle of Coal Creek Armory and his presentation will be about Class 3 firearms.
  
  This meeting will he held at The IHOP restaurant, in [...]
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  Posted: June 02, 2009, 11:30am EDT
  

• The Next Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party

  I have been lax to post anything regarding the race to become the next Chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party. It's not fair to the candidates or to my wife, who, as the State Executive Committeewoman for the 6th District of Tennessee, will cast her ballot for one of the' [...]
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  Posted: May 29, 2009, 11:19am EDT
  

• The Case for Marriage

  Sara McLanahan at Princeton University and her colleagues have found that boys who are raised by single mothers are twice as likely to end up in prison by age 32, that girls who are born outside of marriage are three times as likely to have a teenage pregnancy, and that [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 9:16am EDT
  

• Red State Update: Sotomayor the Racist

  Jackie and Dunlap talk about saloons, George Jefferson, Jennifer Lopez, and New York racists.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 8:58am EDT
  

• Lockett Urged to Resign

  There was much talk amongst those in the courthouses of East Tennessee about Knox County's Law Director, Bill Lockett, and his admitted theft misappropriation from his previous law firm.
  
  It's somewhat shocking. Law students all take a course in legal ethics, and aspiring attorneys have to pass a [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 5:52am EDT
  

• Bredesen - Putting Programs Over People

  Is this right? Governor Phil Bredesen's proposed budget axes over 1,300 jobs - many in fields such as child welfare and mental health - but actually expands the amount of money - by millions of dollars - given to Pre-K, the sacred budgetary cow that is Bredesen's educational equivalent to [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 5:25am EDT
  

• If You Like Medical Privacy, Defeat HB2289

  Blue Collar Muse has the details. [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 5:14am EDT
  

• Pinch the Tails, Suck the Heads in Middle Tennessee This Weekend

  Have a hankerin' for some good food and good company this weekend? Join the Williamson County Young Republicans at their annual Crawfish Boil this Saturday.
  
  What: 2009 Williamson County Young Republicans Crawfish Boil
  When: Saturday, May 30th from 5:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M. (Central Time)
  Where: Moonshine Hill' [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 4:05am EDT
  

• Sessions? Is that French?

  Cheese eating surrender monkey Republican Senator Jeff Sessions, the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is now on record as saying that a filibuster of Second Amendment hating bigot liberal Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is unlikely.
  
  Way to lay down, Monsieur Sessions. What was that [...]
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  Posted: May 27, 2009, 5:34pm EDT
  

• What She Said

  Terry Frank sends a passionate plea to Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey to show all conservatives and those who believe that the Tennessee Constitution means what it says why he is qualified to be our next Governor. [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2009, 9:55pm EDT
  

• Fitting Tribute for Memorial Day Weekend

  A great piece from ESPN's "Outside the Lines" series, if you can make it through this without shedding a tear, you're a stronger man than I.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2009, 12:30pm EDT
  

• Blount County Lincoln Day TONIGHT

  I'm about to dash to William Blount High School, site of the 2009 Blount County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner. It starts at 6:00 P.M., and Congressman Marsha Blackburn is the keynote speaker.
  
  See y'all there! [...]
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  Posted: May 22, 2009, 4:46pm EDT
  

• Disturbing Murder in New Mexico

  As a father who works every week in the juvenile courts of Tennessee, this story makes me ill.
  
  Of course, since New Mexico has one of the worst governors in America, Tiffany Toribio doesn't have to worry about the death penalty. That's a shame. [...]
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  Posted: May 22, 2009, 5:04am EDT
  

• Holy Cow!

  If someone had told me that Harry Carey was going to be making an encore appearance on Saturday Night Live a few weeks back, I might have endured an hour of bad comedy just to catch this golden oldie.
  
  
  
  Anyone who grew up on Harry calling games [...]
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  Posted: May 20, 2009, 12:34am EDT
  

• Quote of the Day

  As students in the 1960s, the Baby Boomers fought for the right to be treated as adults. After they became college administrators in the 1990s, they began to fight for students' right to be treated like children.
  
  - Mike Adams, Professor at University of North Carolina-Wilmington, lamenting the victim' [...]
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  Posted: May 18, 2009, 1:25am EDT
  

• TN GOP Chairman Robin Smith Resigns, Will Run for Congress

  As expected, Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Robin Smith announced this morning in a conference call to State Executive Committee members that she is stepping down from her current position, effective May 30, 2009. She will be devoting her efforts to running for the seat in Congress that is currently held [...]
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  Posted: May 16, 2009, 11:10am EDT
  

• APA: Being Gay Not a Matter of Genetics

  Those on the Left have hammered away at society for the past few decades, and, slowly, a great deal of the population has come to accept that being a homosexual is something that you're "born into." Not wishing to argue the science of the human genome and instead arguing the' [...]
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  Posted: May 15, 2009, 7:09am EDT
  

• Another Day, Another Trial...

  Today's ranting and raving will be at a minimum due to an all-day trial in Blount County. For the third time, I'm representing a young Sudanese gentleman. Sure wish I spoke Dinka... [...]
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  Posted: May 14, 2009, 8:13am EDT
  

• Tennessee Republicans Think You're Stupid

  Heh. Senate Republicans apparently think that Tennesseans are so dumb that they can't tell the difference between the words "elect" (as it says in the Tennessee Constitution) and "select" (as they pushed through the Senate Judiciary yesterday).
  
  Those words are mutually exclusive, ladies and gentlemen - just like' [...]
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  Posted: May 13, 2009, 8:06am EDT
  

• Stamp Increase Today

  Keep in mind, dear readers, that all First Class Mail sent through the United States Postal Service today and beyond requires a $0.44 stamp, as the USPS has once again raised rates.
  
  The Postmaster General would have us believe that the increase is small potatoes and doesn't even begin' [...]
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  Posted: May 11, 2009, 6:49am EDT
  

• Study: Same-sex Parents Twice as Likely to Live in Poverty

  From the USA Today:
  
  

  "Lesbian couples are more likely to be poor than married heterosexuals,
  and children of same-sex parents are twice as likely to live in poverty as those
  of traditional married couples, a new report shows."

  
  Interesting results, for sure. Why would sexual orientation lead to [...]
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  Posted: April 25, 2009, 1:10am EDT
  

• Giuliani Looking to Ride Gay Marriage Opposition to Governor's Mansion in New York

  Recent polling tends to support that Giuliani's position on this issue is in line with most New Yorkers, but will it be enough to beat Democratic incumbent David Paterson or possible Democratic challenger Andrew Cuomo?
  
  Could a race in a politically liberal state like New York be decided' [...]
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  Posted: April 25, 2009, 12:36am EDT
  

• You're kidding?

  Study: Dullness can kill a marriage
  
  No, really? You mean to tell me that U.S. researchers have been able to conclude that a marriage that is dull and uninteresting can lead to problems in that marriage?
  
  I hope no federal funding was used to prove that shocking [...]
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  Posted: April 25, 2009, 12:29am EDT
  

• "Teddy Integrity's" Paid Volunteer Bill Approved by House

  The New York Times calls the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act the "largest expansion of government-sponsored service programs since President John F. Kennedy first called for the creation of a national community service corps in 1963." And when the NYT says that, you know we're talking a level' [...]
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  Posted: April 01, 2009, 5:44am EDT
  

• Is the Tennessee GOP caving to the trial lawyers?

  David Fowler of FACT thinks so.
  
  Word leaked from the Legislature today (Monday) that key House and Senate leaders may seek to suspend the Rules in our State House of Representatives tonight to quickly move tomorrow a bill that would continue to prevent the people from voting for [...]
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  Posted: March 30, 2009, 4:29pm EDT
  

• Obama Picks the Vols

  President Obama took some time from his 35-hour per week job to create an NCAA Tournament bracket on ESPN.
  
  The good news is that he has picked our beloved Tennessee Vols to win their first round game against Oklahoma State. The bad news is that by being linked to [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2009, 1:40pm EDT
  

• Insulting Democrats, Congress, and the Florida Gators...

  ALL IN ONE VIDEO!
  
  This is almost too good to be true. I give you Representative Corrine Brown, Democratic Congresswoman from Florida's 3rd District.
  
  
  
  I'm not sure that the language used by Representative Brown, a 9-term Member of Congress, was English, but it might have been. [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2009, 1:20pm EDT
  

• Upcoming Political Events

  Thought I would spread the word about several East Tennessee events on the horizon, a few of which are Lincoln or Reagan Day events. Folks, I want to say a word about the Lincoln/Reagan Day dinners. With the notable exception of Knox County, these events are the annual fundraisers for [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 6:13am EDT
  

• Let the Madness Begin... Early.

  
  
  Simply an incredible game in the Big East quarterfinals on Thursday night. SIX OVERTIMES?! As someone who appreciates that the best basketball in the country is played in the Big East but did not have a rooting interest in this game, it was [...]
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  Posted: March 13, 2009, 5:59am EDT
  

• Global Warming Supporters Like Communists?

  Interesting comments by the EU's Vaclav Klaus at the International Conference on Climate Change:
  
  "They didn't even try to argue back. They considered you a naïve, uninformed and confused person, an eccentric complainer....It is very similar now."
  
  What is Klaus comparing? Hard-line Communists and global warming supporters. Klaus [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 7:17pm EDT
  

• A Few Words about the Knox County Election Administrator

  My name has been floated as a possibility for the Knox County Election Administrator position. I know this, and I have spoken with several members of the Knox County GOP Caucus regarding the position.
  
  The truth is that I am interested in the position. However, I have a tremendous [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 4:32pm EDT
  

• More Signs of Trouble for the East Tennessee Economy

  There have been several major events related to the local economy here in Knoxville - Goody's and IPIX going belly-up being at the top of the charts. Blount County has also been hit hard, with Alcoa experiencing lay-offs, the boat manufacturing plants and Denso cutting back hours, and a [...]
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  Posted: March 09, 2009, 4:00pm EDT
  

• Where in the World is Bart Gordon?

  Why, he's on a luxury "business trip" through Europe, of course. Why, you may ask? Well, he ain't telling.
  
  Go to RedState and learn about how two of Tennessee's Democratic pillars of ethical behavior Congressmen aren't letting the economic troubles cramp their style. [...]
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  Posted: February 20, 2009, 6:38am EST
  

• College Basketball Player Booted for Not Being Gay

  Brooke Heike, a former basketball player for Central Michigan University, was kicked off of the basketball team for CMU and stripped of her scholarship. Why? It wasn't for her on-court performance. It wasn't for failing to live up to the academic expectations of a student athlete. According to accounts, [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 5:56pm EST
  

• 2009 - Return to Sender

  This year has not been kind.
  
  I have witnessed Tennessee Democrats gaming the system to put a moron in the Speaker's Chair. Congress has passed the worst bill in my lifetime, which will be signed in my President Obama tomorrow. My dog passed away suddenly.
  
  But with all' [...]
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  Posted: February 16, 2009, 5:40pm EST
  

• RIP, Slammin' Sammy Huddleston

  
  It is with a heavy heart that I announce the sudden and unexpected passing of my best friend for the past 5 years, Slammin' Sammy Huddleston. It is no exaggeration that I have shed more tears for the passing of Sammy and my childhood canine,' [...]
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  Posted: February 09, 2009, 8:24am EST
  

• UT National Signing Day 2009

  
  The whirlwind that has been Tennessee football recruiting - for the most part - comes to an end today in the form of National Signing Day. I say "for the most part" because a few highly touted recruits, including RB David Oku and TE Orson [...]
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  Posted: February 04, 2009, 7:42am EST
  

• Should Tennessee Reject Obama's Bailout?

  Ken over at the Blue Collar Muse posed that question to House Majority Leader Jason Mumpower today, and it apparently is garnering quite a bit of attention.
  
  Ken's correct on principle. For those of us who stand to gain from having borrowed money - that is, money borrowed' [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 5:06pm EST
  

• Twas the Night Before National Signing Day

  
  Someone posted this over at Volquest regarding tomorrow's events, which for many college football fans has become akin to a national holiday. I have covered UT's NSD signings for several years. We'll see what I have in store for tomorrow.
  
  Enjoy.
  
  Twas the' [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 4:37pm EST
  

• Suit Filed on Baby Born Alive During Abortion

  From WorldNetDaily:
  
  A civil lawsuit is being launched in the Florida case of a baby girl who survived an abortion procedure but promptly was shoved into a chemical-laden biohazard bag where police found the body nine days later.
  
  I highly doubt that this is the first time [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 2:58pm EST
  

• Prosecutors Boycotting Judge

  I found this interesting story out of the state of Washington where county prosecutors are refusing to try cases before a newly-elected judge. Their reason? It appears that the judge has been actively involved in homosexual prostitution.
  
  This is an interesting situation. Personally, I have never witnessed a [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 2:51pm EST
  

• GWU Democrat Group Destroys Pro-Life Display

  I hate to bash on one of Angela's alma maters, but this seems to be typical behavior at the elite Northern liberal universities.
  
  "George Washington University College Democrats Vandalize Pro-Life Display"
  
  Stay classy, D.C.' [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 2:44pm EST
  

• In the Mail Today

  I received two books to review from Intercollegiate Studies Institute today.
  
  
  
  The Bork book is thick - over 700 pages - and contains highlights of Bork's work as an attorney, a judge, and author on a variety of topics including natural law,' [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 2:25pm EST
  

• A New Way of Looking at the Super Bowl

  A couple of hours after the Super Bowl had concluded (a game that could have been a classic if it weren't for lousy officiating), I was reintroduced to a different kind of bowl.
  
  Whether it was food poisoning or a stomach flu, February did not begin well for' [...]
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  Posted: February 03, 2009, 2:07pm EST
  

• Red State Update: The Democrats' Stimulus Plan

  Jackie and Dunlap talk about how a trillion dollars isn't being spent on job creation and instead is being spent on lifeguards for polar bears, hippie artists, paying people to fail, reconstructing the National Mall, contraception programs, hotels for dogs, and mall cops.
  
  ' [...]
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  Posted: January 31, 2009, 11:32am EST
  

• Wednesday Lagniappe

  OK, so we all agree that our economy is in a recession, if not entering a depression.
  
  How does that jive with Paul Blart: Mall Cop making $64,923,380 in only 2 weeks at the box office?
  
  After Leo was born, we cut back on movie expenditures to only [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 5:57pm EST
  

• Postal Service Looking at Cutting Mail Service to Five Days Per Week

  This report doesn't mention it, but why wasn't the Postmaster General questioned about reducing the hourly wages of postal workers? I'm not really aware of any college degrees or vocational training for mail carriers, but it appears that postal work is paid at an hourly wage of $18.02 to' [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 4:04pm EST
  

• Hamas-backed Group Threatens Law Suit Against Pajamas Media

  Patrick Poole over at Pajamas Media reported that Ohio-based Arab Student Aid International (ASAI) was funding and building terrorist activities. ASAI, while not denying the charge outright, is now threatening to sue Pajamas Media.
  
  I've heard rumors over the past several years that Arab groups had been active' [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 2:49pm EST
  

• I Can't Wait to See January End

  January has not been a kind month on many fronts, one of which for me has been with my health. After three straight days of a bench trial in the first week of January (which followed several days of trial preparation), my immune system was thoroughly depressed, so much so [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 11:49am EST
  

• Point of Clarification

  At least one prominent blogger misread the intentions behind my post yesterday on the Tennessee Governor's race in 2010. As a point of clarification, I wasn't talking about issuing an endorsement. I was talking about joining on with a campaign. From the phone calls and e-mails I have received [...]
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  Posted: January 28, 2009, 11:07am EST
  

• For the Record on the Governor's Race...

  I wanted to address some rumors and questions that I have faced here recently regarding the 2010 race for the Governor's Mansion.
  
  Zach Wamp, Bill Haslam, and Ron Ramsey are my friends. As I discussed with several other young conservatives at the Republican National Convention last September, I did' [...]
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  Posted: January 27, 2009, 6:13am EST
  

• Red State Update: Obama Administration, Week One

  Jackie and Dunlap wax poetic about the Oak Ridge Boys, Rush Limbaugh, Gitmo, and conspiracy theories about the Inauguration that will bring about the end of days.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: January 26, 2009, 5:56pm EST